WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, November 7, 2012, the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC-Mid-Atlantic) will present the Honorable Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), with its annual Diversity Champion Award.

The award will be presented at a reception which will be held at the Newseum located at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, in Washington, D.C.

NAMIC-Mid-Atlantic President, Sherry Hubbard, says, "We are delighted to present the chapter's second Diversity Champion Award to Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. Commissioner Clyburn has a long history of public service and dedication to the public interest. Since her days as a newspaper publisher and general manager to her work today at the FCC, she has been a conscientious advocate to encourage inclusion and diversity throughout the communications industry."

The Commissioner has promoted the availability of 21st Century communications needs to all U.S. citizens, no matter their financial capabilities, through programs such as the Universal Service Fund Lifeline program, which is designed to ensure low-income families, many of which are minorities, are not left behind. This includes access to telephone service and establishing a pilot program to determine the best way to modify the Lifeline program so that eligible low-income families have access to residential broadband service. Commissioner Clyburn also has encouraged the introduction of private sector broadband adoption programs that target low-income families, such as Comcast's Internet Essentials program and the Connect2Compete program supported by the cable industry. She has advocated for, and worked with the Chairman's Office to increase the deployment and adoption of higher quality and more affordable mobile broadband services, as studies have shown that people in low-income communities rely heavily on mobile devices.

In the area of media diversity, Commissioner Clyburn has championed the need for more accurate and up-to-date data on the state of female and minority ownership in traditional and new media, and sought opportunities to improve the proliferation of low power FM stations throughout America. She continues to look for creative ways to promote increased minority participation as owners, operators and content providers in the digital age.

For well over two decades, Commissioner Clyburn has been actively involved in myriad community organizations. She is a Life Member of the NAACP, a member of The Links, Inc. and the South Carolina Advisory Council of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and was past president of the Charleston County Democratic Women and Black Women Entrepreneurs. She supports and frequently speaks at events sponsored by organizations dedicated to advancing the cause of diversity in communications, including NAMIC and Women in Cable and Telecommunications (WICT).

NAMIC (National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications) is the premier organization focusing on multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry. Founded in 1980 as a non-profit trade association, today NAMIC comprises over 2,700 professionals belonging to a network of 16 chapters nationwide. Through initiatives that focus on education, advocacy and empowerment, NAMIC champions equity and inclusion in the workforce, with special attention given to ensuring that the leadership cadres of our nation's communications industry giants reflect the multi-ethnic richness of the populations they serve. For more information, please visit www.namic.com and stay connected to NAMIC on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and DiversityLive: The Business > Social NAMIC Network.